New Tank Set up |
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Posted on: 10/4/2012 7:56 |
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10/4/2012 7:34 From: Aberdeenshire
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Registered Users Basic Membership Posts: 12
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Hello All. I'm a new member (to the fish tank) and wonder if you could help me please..
I bought a new 180ltr fish tank and set up over the weekend. I washed sand and rocks that are in the tank (no fish at this stage) and changed out the water as the water is cloudy. Its much better today but still cloudy. Does this process until clear take a few weeks and should I wait until crystal clear before I add fish? My water readings are: GH = 30 KH = 40 PH - 7.0 No2 = 0.5 No3 = 20 Appreciate your help!  |
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Re: New Tank Set up |
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Posted on: 10/4/2012 8:11 |
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6/7/2010 19:26 From: Worcestershire
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Registered Users Image Admin Caresheets Moderators Advisers FK Supporter Posts: 9563
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Hi and welcome to FK,
The cloudiness is probably dust from the gravel and should settle eventually. Before you can add fish you need to cycle the tank so that when you get the fish they are not poisoned by ammonia and nitrite from their own waste. This process takes around 6 weeks and the cloudiness will clear while you are cycling the tank. This article explains how the nitrogen cycle works to process fish waste, and explains how to carry out a fishless cycle. Any questions, please ask |
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Re: New Tank Set up |
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Posted on: 10/4/2012 8:22 |
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Joined:
10/4/2012 7:34 From: Aberdeenshire
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Registered Users Basic Membership Posts: 12
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Thank you Fishlady!!
Would you recommend I wait a few weeks before adding any fish? Cheers! |
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Re: New Tank Set up |
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Posted on: 10/4/2012 8:48 |
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Joined:
6/7/2010 19:26 From: Worcestershire
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Registered Users Image Admin Caresheets Moderators Advisers FK Supporter Posts: 9563
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Hi
Unfortunately it's not as simple as just waiting. You need to cycle the tank by adding liquid ammonia daily and testing to see when the filter is capable of converting it first to nitrite and then to nitrate within a 24 hour period before it will be safe for fish. You will need a decent liquid based test kit to do this, as it looks from your results as though you are using paper test strips which are not accurate enough and do not test for ammonia. All the details on cycling are in the link in my initial reply |
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Re: New Tank Set up |
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Posted on: 10/4/2012 19:23 |
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  Joined:
22/11/2008 17:42 From: West Yorkshire
Group:
Registered Users Caresheets Advisers FK Supporter Deep End Posts: 6476
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Check out posts 32 and 33 in this thread where pics of Homebase Ammonia are shown (nice to know what you are looking for in the cleaning section
)Boot's online still sell it but not in store. It's about £3 or so in either shop. http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/modules/ ... ASC&type=&mode=0&start=30 Ammonia will be your 'invisible fish' for 4-6 weeks, dosing when required before the filter will be able to deal with the waste produced by the real life fish. You will find some small plastic baby syringes helful, you can buy from the chemist, for exact dosing. Lots of us here can assist of course. |
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Please fill in your personal profile if you are posting on FK. This saves so much time and unnecessary questions so it helps everyone here The importance of QT when adding new fish to an existing tank, to avoid losses (and tears): http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_84/fishkeeping_quarantine.htm |
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Re: New Tank Set up |
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Posted on: 11/4/2012 6:48 |
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Joined:
10/4/2012 7:34 From: Aberdeenshire
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Registered Users Basic Membership Posts: 12
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Sincere thanks for comments..wish me luck!
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